It’s a good idea to keep your hands on the steering wheel when driving. An auto repair technician, however, may violate that reasonable premise. An auto repair technician may take a car for a test ride. Finding a straight, flat road, they’ll wait until there isn’t any traffic to contend with and, then, they’ll take their hands off the steering wheel.

When letting go of the steering wheel, the auto repair technician will carefully observe the vehicle’s reaction. What they’re looking for is pull; they want to see if the car wants to pull one way or the other. Pull, or drift, is a strong indication that a vehicle requires a front-end alignment. With the wheels properly aligned, the car should track down a straight, flat road.

Proper front-end alignment takes into account the slope of the road. Roads are crowned in the center and low on the edges so the water can roll down into the gutters when it rains.

Taking a car for a test drive can give an auto repair technician other clues about the condition of a car. For instance, they may feel a shimmy in the steering wheel. This could indicate other problems with the car’s front end and steering assembly. It could also indicate problems with the shocks, struts or the balance of the wheels.

Whatever the issue – worn front-end parts, shocks, struts, alignment or wheel balance – the issue is likely to put more wear and tear on other related parts; the tires are likely to wear unevenly. In the end, you’ll pay more to rectify the issue, and the problems it creates, than if you took care of the problem before it spread.

While test driving a vehicle, of course, a qualified auto repair technician will also observe other aspects of how the car is driving. This includes how the engine is running, how the transmission engages and shifts and how the brakes work. These are all significant safety factors.

Having an auto repair technician take a car for a test drive is, therefore, a great way to catch a problem when it’s minor or less costly or dangerous. Waiting and driving the vehicle when you’re not sure is a sure way to give potential problems a chance to grow.